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October 2024

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1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

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Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

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Nooses in a tree are not always...

By Vicki Hodges
Posted: 08/31/2020
Tags: racism, vickie hodges

 I  recently discovered nooses hanging in my neighbors’ tree. Now it is later.

When I went on my walk Wednesday morning, my neighbor rushed out of her door when she saw me giving her dog a treat (which I do every morning). She was smiling and anxious as she greeted me from 6 feet away.
She told me she had gotten my note and felt "terrible" that the ropes had had such an effect on me. "I didn't think," she said. She was tearful and very apologetic. She explained that the ropes had been for her daughter to practice her acrobatics on.

I don't know if I mentioned in my article that the ropes had been removed by the time last weekend was over. I didn't get into "why" it took her so long to talk to me since I had written the note the Friday before and given her my address.  I was just glad that we were having a conversation and she was contrite. We threw each other cyber hugs, I got her name and all was well.

I think we both learned some lessons. For me, it was to always pay attention to my "gut." While some had been urging me to make a bad "rush to judgment" (i.e., by calling authorities) I am glad I was patient and decided to wait and see if she would reach out to me or I would connect with her. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait very long for us to have a conversation. The fact that I waited was very gratifying for me. Patience is something I've been trying to work on.

-     Vickie –

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